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Cities worldwide reject water privatisation after years of failed promises, poor services and high prices

10 Mar 2016
3:35 PM -

Recommendations in the
recently released Infrastructure Australia 15 Year Plan that consideration are
given to more sustainable models for the delivery of drinking water in regional
NSW, including privatising water where commercially viable, fly in the face of
a global trend towards the municipalisation of water supply and waste water
services.

“The number of cities
reversing privatisation and taking back public control of water supply and
sewerage services is accelerating dramatically across the world,” said Mayor of
the Forbes Shire Councillor Phyllis Miller OAM.

According to research by the
Public Services International Research Unit published by the University of
Greenwich in 2015 there have been at least 180 cases of water
remunicipalisation in 35 countries including high profile cases in Europe, the
Americas, Asia and Africa over the last 15 years.

“Worldwide research is
showing a backlash against private operators and their failure to put the needs
of communities before profit,” said Mayor Miller.

“In the United States there
is evidence that Local Governments have saved millions of dollars and improved
the quality of their water services through locally accountable public
management”.

“A survey of 18 communities
in the United States where water or sewer services were remunicipalised between
2007 and 2010 found that public operations cut costs in these communities by an
average of 21%. Added to this are frightening cases of poor water quality,
inadequate maintenance and unresponsive customer service.”

“Centroc is a staunch
advocate for Local Government retaining ownership and management of Local Water
Utilities in regional NSW ensuring the provision of best practice compliant
quality drinking water and sewerage services at an affordable cost for our
communities,” said Mayor Miller.

We are already feeling the effects of the loss of local management of electricity. It is to be hoped that the State and Federal Government are watching this global trend closely to ensure the same mistakes are not made with essential water and sewerage services in regional NSW.

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Forbes Shire Council was created in 1981 from the amalgamation of the Forbes Municipal Council and the Jemalong Shire Council. Responsible for town planning, building approvals, local roads, parking, public toilets, water and sewerage, waste removal, domestic animals and community facilities, the organisation exists in line with our core values and strategic goals.